Extension-step.



E. F. HOWELL.

EXTENSION STEP. APPLICATION FILED nov.14, 190s.

925,476. Patented June22,1909.

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=. State of Oklahoma, have invented certain PATENT orrron EDWARD F. HOWELL, OF WAPANUOKA, OKLAHOMA.

EXTENSION-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Application filed November 14, 1908. Serial No. 462,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. HOWELL, a, citizen of the United States, residing at Wapanucka, in the county of Johnston and new and useful Improvements in Extension- Steps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accomp anying drawing.

This invention relates to car steps, and has specially in view an extension therefor which has an adjustable connection with the side hangers of the steps so that the same may be readily raised or lowered relatively to the steps.

In carrying out the object of the invention generally stated above it will of course be understood that the essential features thereof are susceptible of structural changes and modification of details, but a preferred and practical embodiment of the same is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a car showing the steps of the same equipped with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the support for the ex tension step. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch for holding the extension step in a raised position, the same being shown engaged with the extension step support. Fig. l is a detail perspective view of one of the channeled guides for the support.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts.

It is well known that the lowermost step of a car platform is necessarily at such a height from the ground or floor of a station that it is somewhat diflicult to reach the same, and to overcome this difliculty it is the general custom in stations to provide boxes or stools which serve as the first step. The use of such boxes or stools is objectionable primarily for the reason that it requires one stool or box to each car entrance which necessitates the employment of porters or stationkeepers to attend to the same.

The present invention aims to overcome the use of such boxes or stools by the employment of an extension step which is carried below the lowermost stationary step and which may be lowered so that the same is within easy stepping reach of the ground or floor.

In the practical embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing,

the car platform 1 and the stationary steps carried thereby are of the usual type, the steps being supported by the usual side hangers 3 which have a bolt connection 4 with the underside of the said platform 1. The said side hangers 3 each have a guide block 5 rigidly secured on their outer side, said guide blocks being provided with longitudinally arranged spaced apart grooves or channels 6 on their inner surface and which guide and hold in sliding relation with said hangers, the spaced apart rods 7 forming the side members of an extension support 8. Said extension support is preferably formed of a single length of steel rod bent to form a substantially U-shaped structure, the horizontal bottom members 99- of which are rigidly connected with and form a reinforcing means for a step 10. The connecting member 11 at the top of each of the spaced apart rods forming the sides of the support projects slightly above the tops of the guide blocks 5 and form loops which are engaged by spring latches 12 carried by the side hangers to retain said support in an elevated position, as will presently appear.

The s ring latch 12 of each sill has its stem 13 rigid y connected with a block 14 fast on said sill, said stem 13 being of thin resilient metal and provided with an enlarged latching head 15 which presents an inclined or beveled edge 16 to the loop of the side member of the support, saidedge 16 terminating in an abrupt holding shoulder 17 (see Fig. 3). This form of latch insures of the said side members of the su port automatically engaging therewith wfien pushed through the guide blocks, as will be obvious.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the described form of extension step support is one that may be cheaply formed, and which, in connection with the guide blocks and latches insures of the step carried thereby being snugly held to the underside of the lowermost step of the latform when said extension is not in use anr thereby in a position where it will not interfere with the proper running of the car. Another distinctive feature of the invention is the loop formed by the spaced apart side members, which in addition to serving as an effective means for holding the said support in engagement with the latches and thereby retain the same in an elevated osition, also serves as a means for limiting t e downward movement of said support, for the reason that said loop, when the support is in a lowered position will rest on the top of the guide block 5, and as the latter is held in rigid relation with the side sills, the limit of the downward. movement of said support is reached when said loop end is on the end of said guide block.

Claims 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the side hangers of the stationary steps, of guide blocks carried thereby and provided with channels, an extension step, and a support therefor composed of sides and a bottom, the said sides being formed. of spaced-apart members slidable through the channels of said guide blocks and having their ends connected to limit the movement of said support in one direction.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of the side hangers carrying guiding and holding blocks provided. with spaced apart longitudinally arranged channels, and an extension support the side members of which are formed of spaced apart rods slidinglylitting said channels and having a step rigidly connected to their lower portions.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of the side hangers carrying channeled holding and guiding blocks, an eX- tension support the side members of which are formed of spaced apart rods fitting said channels and carrying a step at their lower portion, and a latch carried by each sill and adapted to engage with said side members to retain said support in an elevated position. I

4. In a device of the character described, i the combination of the side hangers carrying l holding and guiding blocks provided with l spaced apart longitudinally arranged chanl nels, an extension su port having looped side members slidingly held within said blocks and carrying a step at their bottom portions, and a spring latch carried by each silland adapted to engage with said looped side members to retain said support in an elevated position.

5. A device of the character described, comprising stationary hangers, a guiding and holding block carried by: each hanger and provided with longitudinally arranged spaced apart channels, a spring latch carried by each hanger above said blocks, a U-shaped extension support having s )aced apart rods forming its side members s idingly mounted in said blocks and adapted to be engaged by said latch when in an elevated position, and a step carried by the bottom of said U-shaped support.

6. A device of the character described, comprising stationary hangers, a guiding and holding block carried by each hanger and provided with longitudinally arranged spaced apart channels, a spring latch carried by said hangers above said blocks and rovided with an enlarged head having an inc ined edge and a holding shoulder, a U-shaped frame slidingly mounted in said blocks and composed of spaced apart side and bottom rods formed of a single length of material, the sides of said frame being in the form of a loo which is engaged by said latch when in an e evated position, and a step carried by the bottom of said frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'lfiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ED /VARD F. HOWELL.

lVitnesses:

B. E. WADE, L. B. HIRE. 

